Kings Hotel, Sydney CBD facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kings Hotel |
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The former King's Hotel, Sydney
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| Location | 138-140 Pitt Street, Sydney central business district, City of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1879– |
| Built for | William Mears |
| Official name: Sugar House; Tricketts Hotel; Kings Hotel; Citibank | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 417 |
| Type | Hotel |
| Category | Commercial |
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The Kings Hotel is a historic building in Sydney, Australia. It used to be a hotel, but now it's used for businesses. You can find it at 138-140 Pitt Street in the heart of Sydney's city centre. This building was first built in 1879. It has also been known by other names like Trickett's Hotel and Sugar House. Because of its importance, it was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.
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Discovering the Kings Hotel's Past
The Kings Hotel building has a long and interesting history. For many years, the land it stands on was Sydney's first place for trading sugar. This was a very important business in the early days of the city.
How the Hotel Began
In the late 1870s, a Sydney businessman named William Mears decided to build a hotel here. The building was finished in 1879. It had four floors and sixteen rooms, and it was made of brick and shingle.
The first person to manage the hotel was Edward Trickett. He was famous because he was a world champion sculler, which means he was a champion rower. Because of him, the hotel was first known as "Trickett's Hotel." Later, its name changed to "Kings Hotel."
Changes Over the Years
In April 1914, the hotel was damaged by a fire. But it was fixed and reopened, continuing to operate as the Kings Hotel. It stayed open until June 30, 1973, when it finally closed its doors as a hotel.
After closing, the building was changed to be used for different businesses. It was even renamed Sugar House for a while. Over the years, many different shops and offices have been inside. In the 1980s, it was a bridal store. Later, it became a branch of Citibank. More recently, in 2018, it was a Wittner Shoes store.
What Makes the Kings Hotel Special?
The Kings Hotel building at 138-140 Pitt Street is very important. It shows us what Victorian-era city hotels looked like. It's one of the best and most complete examples still standing today. Its location is also very noticeable, especially along King Street.
Unique Design Features
One of the most special parts of the building is its four-corner tower and the small dome on top, called a cupola. This tower makes the building stand out. It's a landmark in the area. The building has beautiful Italianate details, which means it was designed in a style popular in Italy.
The Kings Hotel is part of a group of old buildings from the late 1800s and early 1900s. These buildings are near the intersection of Pitt and King Streets. The octagonal tower with its dome roof looks amazing next to the tall, modern buildings around it. It's a clear landmark when you look down King Street, especially with the MLC Centre behind it.
Building Details
The building has four floors and is made of strong masonry. It has a tower set back from the corner. It also has angled bay windows on the first and second floors. These windows are topped with fancy ironwork, just like the main parapet (the low wall at the edge of the roof). The building has excellent Victorian details and is very well designed.
The ground floor has been changed over time with new shopfronts and inside layouts. However, the upper floors still have much of their original design. They have been updated with modern things like air conditioning.
This building is one of the best examples of the corner hotels that were common in Sydney's business area. These hotels were built during a time of fast growth in the 1800s. Even though it's not huge, its strong design has been a striking feature on Pitt and King Streets for over a hundred years. It's especially important when you look east along King Street. From there, it's the only older building that stands out among the new tall buildings on the north side of King Street.
Heritage Recognition
The Kings Hotel, also known as Trickett's Hotel, was officially listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999. This means it is protected because of its historical and architectural value.
